The regular season is dwindling and the stakes for playoff-bound teams are ramping up. We're entering the time frame where boys become men, where good players ascend to great players. Take a deep breath, Texas high school football fans, because we're about to hop on the rocket ship to December.

The best QBs we saw this week

Name: Billy White III | School: Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial  | Class: 2026 | Pos: QB | HT: 6'5" | WT:  

White stands at a wiry 6'5" as a sophomore and you can tell from his build he's spent plenty of time on the basketball court. He has a good arm and mobility and for three quarters in the Eagles 59-40 loss to Corpus Christi Miller, he displayed poise and maturity beyond his years. He did make some sophomore mistakes in the fourth quarter, but there's a high ceiling for this two-sport sophomore. - Matt Stepp

Name: Ty Hawkins | School: San Antonio Johnson  | Class: 2025 | Pos: QB | HT: 6'0" | WT: 190 

Hawkins was sensational in Johnson's dominant 42-7 win over San Antonio Marshall as he ran for one score and threw five touchdown passes to help Johnson improve to 7-1. The TCU commit displayed elite arm strength making throws from the pocket and on the run and he exhibited lethal running ability. - Matt Stepp

Name: Jackson Gutierrez | School: San Antonio Jay  | Class: 2025 | Pos: QB | HT: 6'1" | WT: 205

The Navy commit threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns and added 66 yards on the ground as Jay fell 42-33 to San Antonio Harlan in a battle of unbeatens. Gutierrez is a dynamic athlete who plays physical and on multiple occasions ran over Harlan DB's in the open field. He's an adept passer with good touch on the deep ball as well. - Matt Stepp

Name: Cash McCollum | School: China Spring  | Class: 2024 | Pos: QB | HT: 6'4" | WT: 215

McCollum and his China Spring squad began the fourth quarter down 28-7 and looking bewildered against Stephenville's front seven, but the North Texas commit willed his team back into the game with two fourth quarter touchdown passes. McCollum threw his best balls in the final frame, showing anticipation and the ability to take speed off the ball to loft it into tight windows. I was also surprised by his athleticism both on designed quarterback runs and in scramble drills. - Carter Yates

Backfield Workhorses

Name: Broderick Taylor | School: Corpus Christi Miller  | Class: 2025 | Pos: RB | HT: 5'9" | WT: 160

Taylor showed he was a complete back in a monster performance Thursday night with 278 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns for Miller. Taylor showed good vision, the ability to run through tackles and home run speed. He displayed his skills as a receiver as well, catching two screen passes and then turning them into long touchdowns. - Matt Stepp

Name: Levon Morton | School: Mesquite Horn  | Class: 2026 | Pos: RB | HT: 5'7" | WT: 155

Morton is emerging as the focal point of the Jaguars' offense. His quickness and acceleration allow him to pick up quick chunks of yards. As a slashing runner, he navigates traffic adeptly and often becomes hard to find behind the offensive linemen. He accumulated over 100 yards of offense vs. Rockwall-Heath, narrowly missing a few touchdown runs. His potential to improve with added strength makes him even more dangerous, as he will shed tackles and score more touchdowns. Morton has an offer from Arkansas and more will follow. - Greg Powers

Name: Kyle Barton | School: China Spring  | Class: 2024 | Pos: RB | HT: 5'10" | WT: 195

Barton's just a true football player. He's got a great blend of speed and power when handed the ball. Then he shows great instincts and sure hands running routes out of the backfield. Oh, and he was all over the field from his safety spot on defense. He's got an offer to Stetson University and should get more come playoff time. - Carter Yates

Name: Tate Maruska | School: Stephenville  | Class: 2024 | Pos: RB | HT: 5'10" | WT: 175

Maruska put up another gaudy statline against China Spring with 151 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. He's the bell cow of a run heavy Stephenville team but has a nice backfield mate in junior Bryson Powell. Maruska, a Tartleton commit, runs angry and linear. - Carter Yates

Versatile Wideouts

Name: Christian Sabsook | School: Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial | Class: 2024 | Pos: WR | HT: 5'11" | WT: 165

The Air Force commit spent times on both sides of the ball for Vets on Thursday night. He did catch six passes for 32 yards, but was more of a factor on defense in the secondary where he shows his versatility playing corner and safety. - Matt Stepp

Name: Taiwo Atunrase | School: San Antonio Cole | Class: 2024 | Pos: ATH | HT: 6'2" | WT: 195

Atunrase is an Air Force commit as a corner, but he does a little bit of everything for Cole. On offense he lined up at QB, RB and at WR, he did have a rushing touchdown called back due to penalty. He shined in the return game where he returned a punt for a touchdown and had another long punt return into the red zone to set up another Cole score. Randolph largely avoided him and worked the side opposite of him when Atunrase was on defense. He's got good size and is a dynamic athlete who plays physical, he's a real hidden gem in the middle of a big city. - Matt Stepp

Name: Bryson Thompson | School: San Antonio Johnson | Class: 2027 | Pos: WR | HT: 5'10" | WT: 165

A talented freshman receiver playing varsity, Thompson is a third or fourth option at the moment, but he did have a touchdown reception in Johnson's win on Saturday. He is a solid route runner at this stage of development and showed good ability to make something happen after the catch. - Matt Stepp

Name: Tristian Gentry | School: Stephenville | Class: 2025 | Pos: WR | HT: 5'11" | WT: 165

The Texas Tech commit was the most explosive player on the field Thursday night. He finished with six catches for 101 yards, but his biggest catch came on a 50-yard bomb from quarterback Ryan Gafford on the second half's opening play. Gentry got behind the defense, high-pointed the ball, and set up a rushing touchdown two plays later that put Stephenville up 21-7. - Carter Yates

Standouts from Mesquite Horn and Rockwall Heath clash

Name: Charles Jones | School: Rockwall Heath | Class: 2024 | Pos: DB | HT: 6'2" | WT: 190

Jones immediately catches your attention with his imposing physicality. Possessing long arms and legs, his lean and well-defined muscular structure is impressive. His athleticism is notable for his size/range. Playing cornerback, he effectively prevented any significant big plays. Jones predominantly plays in press coverage, and he was rarely tested. With the size of a safety, he demonstrates versatility, potentially fitting into S, CB, or Nickel roles at the FBS level. He showcased his physicality with a couple of tackles on running plays. - Greg Powers

Name: Markel Ford | School: Mesquite Horn | Class: 2026 | Pos: S | HT: 6'0" | WT: 185

The Horn defense dominated most of the night, and the secondary played a remarkable game, allowing only 71 passing yards. Ford is the leader of the secondary and patrols center field like a seasoned veteran, staying in position and flying around the field to provide support, make tackles, and break up passes. Ford has 12 offers, including Baylor, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas Tech and USC. - Greg Powers

Name: Lamont Rogers | School: Mesquite Horn | Class: 2025 | Pos: S | HT: 6'6" | WT: 305

Rogers fits the left tackle prototype, boasting long arms and massive hands that allow him to effectively mirror defensive ends. He is an athletic big man with some development ahead, but he has added strength to his upper body and is playing with more confidence. It's easy to see why he is one of the state's most highly recruited offensive tackle prospects, with offers from Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and more. - Greg Powers